Blackpoll Warbler
Facts
Conservation Status: Least Concern
Location: North and South America
Lifespan: About 3 years
Conservation Status: Least Concern
Location: North and South America
Lifespan: About 3 years
Scientific Classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Parulidae
Genus: Dendroica
Species: D. striata
Binomial name: Dendroica striata
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Parulidae
Genus: Dendroica
Species: D. striata
Binomial name: Dendroica striata
Description
Length: Average 4 in
Weight: Average 10 g
Other: The summer male Blackpoll Warblers have dark-streaked brown backs, white faces and black crowns. Their underparts are white with black streaks, and they display two white wing bars. The adult females essentially resemble washed-out versions of the summer males, and in particular, the females lack the strong head patterns, and their crowns and faces are shades of gray.Non-breeding birds of this species have greenish heads, dark-streaked greenish upperparts and yellowish breasts, with the yellow extending to the belly in young birds. Their wing bars are always present.
Length: Average 4 in
Weight: Average 10 g
Other: The summer male Blackpoll Warblers have dark-streaked brown backs, white faces and black crowns. Their underparts are white with black streaks, and they display two white wing bars. The adult females essentially resemble washed-out versions of the summer males, and in particular, the females lack the strong head patterns, and their crowns and faces are shades of gray.Non-breeding birds of this species have greenish heads, dark-streaked greenish upperparts and yellowish breasts, with the yellow extending to the belly in young birds. Their wing bars are always present.
Behaviour
The Blackpoll Warbler migrates every year. It appears that most Blackpoll Warblers from both eastern and western breeding populations leave North America in autumn along the Atlantic coast from Nova Scotia to North Carolina. They depart after cold fronts during periods of northwest winds in October, which help push them southeast over the ocean to the tropics south of Bermuda, where northeast trade winds deflect them south to South America.
The Blackpoll Warbler migrates every year. It appears that most Blackpoll Warblers from both eastern and western breeding populations leave North America in autumn along the Atlantic coast from Nova Scotia to North Carolina. They depart after cold fronts during periods of northwest winds in October, which help push them southeast over the ocean to the tropics south of Bermuda, where northeast trade winds deflect them south to South America.
Predators or Prey?
There are no immediate predators of the Blackpoll Warbler. The species appears to be quite a generalist, preying on a great diversity of adult and larval insects and spiders. Documented insect prey includes lice, locusts, cankerworms, mosquitoes, webworms, ants, termites, gnats, aphids, and sawflies.
There are no immediate predators of the Blackpoll Warbler. The species appears to be quite a generalist, preying on a great diversity of adult and larval insects and spiders. Documented insect prey includes lice, locusts, cankerworms, mosquitoes, webworms, ants, termites, gnats, aphids, and sawflies.
Diet
The Blackpoll Warbler’s diet is primarily arthropods year-round, supplemented by some fruit and seeds, especially during fall migration. This includes lice, locusts, mosquitoes, ants, termites, and many more.
The Blackpoll Warbler’s diet is primarily arthropods year-round, supplemented by some fruit and seeds, especially during fall migration. This includes lice, locusts, mosquitoes, ants, termites, and many more.
Habitat
In the southern portion of their breeding range, Blackpoll Warblers can be found on the higher elevations of mountains. They also spend their summers on the wooded coastal islands of Maine and the Maritime Provinces. Further north they have been reported throughout the boreal coniferous forest. Blackpolls breed nearer to the tundra than any other warbler.
In the southern portion of their breeding range, Blackpoll Warblers can be found on the higher elevations of mountains. They also spend their summers on the wooded coastal islands of Maine and the Maritime Provinces. Further north they have been reported throughout the boreal coniferous forest. Blackpolls breed nearer to the tundra than any other warbler.
Conservation
The Breeding Bird Survey, which samples only the southern and western portions of the breeding range, suggests that the population in those areas increased over five-fold from 1966-1979; then decreased 94% from 1980-2002, notably in Alaska (54%), British Columbia (91%), Quebec (91%), and Newfoundland (78%). Migration data from eastern Massachusetts show a 38% decline over a 49-year period. There are no obvious explanations for these declines. The species appears to be quite adaptable in its habitat use at all times of year, readily using second growth shortly after disturbance. The breeding grounds are still largely undisturbed, though acid rain and budworm control could have adverse effects. Collisions with towers and buildings kill thousands of migrating Blackpoll Warblers, but this is not believed to be a serious threat to populations.
The Breeding Bird Survey, which samples only the southern and western portions of the breeding range, suggests that the population in those areas increased over five-fold from 1966-1979; then decreased 94% from 1980-2002, notably in Alaska (54%), British Columbia (91%), Quebec (91%), and Newfoundland (78%). Migration data from eastern Massachusetts show a 38% decline over a 49-year period. There are no obvious explanations for these declines. The species appears to be quite adaptable in its habitat use at all times of year, readily using second growth shortly after disturbance. The breeding grounds are still largely undisturbed, though acid rain and budworm control could have adverse effects. Collisions with towers and buildings kill thousands of migrating Blackpoll Warblers, but this is not believed to be a serious threat to populations.
Reproduction
The nest is cup-shaped, and made out of twigs and lichens, lined with grasses, fine plant fibers, and feathers. The nest is placed in a small tree. The Blackpoll Warbler produces 3 to 5 eggs. The eggs are white, buff, or pale green with brown spots all over, and purple blotches around the larger end. After hatching, the chicks are completely helpless, and dependent on their parents.
The nest is cup-shaped, and made out of twigs and lichens, lined with grasses, fine plant fibers, and feathers. The nest is placed in a small tree. The Blackpoll Warbler produces 3 to 5 eggs. The eggs are white, buff, or pale green with brown spots all over, and purple blotches around the larger end. After hatching, the chicks are completely helpless, and dependent on their parents.